Since the early 1800s, neurasthenia has referred to a mechanical weakn

Question

Since the early 1800s,  neurasthenia  has referred to a mechanical weakness of the nerves, denoting a medical condition with the symptoms of anxiety, headaches, and depression. Because Americans were said to be particularly prone to neurasthenia—also called nervosism—it was sometimes called Americanitis, as well.

The exhaustion of the central nervous system’s energy was said to be the cause of neurasthenia. And the cause of the exhaustion of that energy? “Civilization,” one doctor explained succinctly. Others explained that urbanization and the increasingly competitive business environment were also to blame. Unsurprisingly, the condition was associated with the upper class and business professionals.

Freud blamed an “insufficient libidinal drive” as the cause of the condition, saying that neurasthenia had a toxic, even poisonous effect on people who had it. He drew a line between neurasthenia and neurotic anxiety, and while his findings on the latter are far better known, he was deeply interested in the treatment, through psychoanalysis, of both.    1 
 1. A good title for this passage would be

A. Understanding Mental Health
B. The Uniquely American Mental Illness
C. Freud’s Secondary Interest
D. Neurasthenia: Anxiety’s Less-Known Twin
E. Neurasthenia and How to Treat It

2 
 2. According to the passage, another name for neurasthenia implies which of the following?

A. That the stresses that caused it were particularly prevalent in Americans
B. That Americans sought help for neurasthenia more often than any other nationality
C. That Americans had an “insufficient libidinal” drive
D. That American culture was far too stressful for most people
E. That America was more civilized than other countries at the time

3 
 3. According to the passage, for what illness is Freud’s treatment better known?

A. Neurasthenia
B. Americanitis
C. Nervosism
D. Neurotic Anxiety
E. Depression

RC Butler 2023  -  Practice Two RC Passages Everyday.   
Passage # 97 Date: 10-Apr-2023
 This question is a part of RC Butler 2023 .  Click here for Details

Ishatv · Answer

hey, could you explain Why is B wrong in q.2?

Sajjad1994 · Answer

Official Explanation

2. According to the passage, another name for neurasthenia implies which of the following?

Difficulty Level:   650

Explanation

A  is the best answer for this inferring question. It is reasonable to infer that the stresses that were believed to have caused the disorder were particularly prevalent in Americans.  C, D,  and  E  all employ flawed logic, applying other facts that are true about the disorder as though they must be true for Americans.  B  might be true but is not justified by the passage, which does not provide any other facts about the nationality of patients seeking treatment.

Answer: A

Anandanwar · Answer

Hello,

I have the following query:
Question 1: The OA is D.
How is Neurasthenia only Anxiety's twin and how is it less known?
I was not able to understand this and thus rejected it.
Could someone please shed some light?
Regards,
Ankit

Sajjad1994 · Answer

Hello Anandanwar

Read the following lines from the passage:

"He   drew a line between neurasthenia and neurotic anxiety, and while his findings on the latter are far better known, he was deeply interested in the treatment, through psychoanalysis, of both".

Freud studied two conditions that had overlapping symptoms (anxiety, headaches, depression, etc.).

He saw them as related but distinct:

Neurasthenia:   “insufficient libidinal drive,”  causing exhaustion of nervous energy. 
  Neurotic anxiety:  different cause (in Freudian theory, often due to repressed conflicts or libido that is not properly discharged).

Both involve anxiety symptoms, so they are like  “twins”,  similar in appearance but not identical in origin. Also read the following line from the passage:

"while his findings on the latter   are far better known"

Freud’s theories about  neurotic anxiety  became famous and are still widely referenced in psychology. His work on  neurasthenia , by contrast, faded from mainstream attention and is less remembered today. In modern psychiatry,  “neurasthenia”  is an outdated diagnosis (removed from DSM after 1980), whereas  “anxiety disorders”  remain a major category.

I hope this help.

Since the early 1800s, neurasthenia has referred to a mechanical weakn

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GMAT Reading Comprehension (RC) Questions

Since the early 1800s, neurasthenia has referred to a mechanical weakn

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615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

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